The mensalão trial moves into fifth week

It is expected that today in the mensalão trial (Penal Case 470), the relator, justice Joaquim Barbosa, will respond to the vote on Thursday by the revisor, justice Ricardo Lewandowski.

In his vote on Thursday, contrary to the vote by Barbosa, Lewandowski absolved deputy João Paulo Cunha (PT-SP) (who was president of the Chamber of Deputies at the time the mensalão scandal took place) and the advertising agency owners, Marco Valério, Cristiano Paz and Ramon Hollerbach of misappropriation of public funds in a deal between the Chamber of Deputies and Valério’s advertising agency.

Lewandowski went on to also absolve Valério and his partners, Paz and Hollerback, of active corruption and malfeasance – crimes that Barbosa said they committed.

After the Lewandowski vote, Barbosa demanded a replication, declaring that he wanted to “clear up some points made by the revisor.” At that point a heated discussion began as Lewandowski demanded the right to follow with his own rejoinder.

The Chief Justice, Carlos Ayres Britto, was not pleased with the idea, pointing out that if there were going to be endless replications and rejoinders the trial would never end. He went on to say that Barbosa, as the relator, had a right to express an opinion (“manifestar”) after the revisor because his position in the process was one of preeminence (“proeminência”). At that point, Lewandowski expressed indignation saying that he and Chief Justice had different concepts of the roles of relator and revisor and that if he was not allowed to respond he would not attend today’s session.